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Eighty-four percent of nuclear reactors built between 2009 and 2020 will be pressurized water reactors, while boiling water reactors will make up 3% of new construction and the remaining 13% will be heavy water and fast reactors, according to a forecast by Ux Consulting. An International Atomic Energy Agency survey showed that 63% of the world's 434 reactors are pressurized water reactors and about 19% are BWRs. "The reality is that it appears to me that the pressurized reactors have a definite advantage, especially after Fukushima," said Nils Diaz, former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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Eighty four percent of new units being built between 2009 and 2020 will be pressurized water reactors, while boiling water reactors would comprise 3% of new construction and the remaining 13% would be heavy water and fast reactors, according to a forecast by Ux Consulting. A survey from the International Atomic Energy Agency showed that 63% of the world's 434 reactors are PWRs and about 19% are BWRs. "The reality is that it appears to me that the pressurized reactors have a definite advantage, especially after Fukushima," said Nils Diaz, former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Developing nations spend more than $500 billion annually to support fossil fuels, driving up greenhouse-gas emissions linked to climate change, exacerbating deficits and encouraging wasteful consumption, writes John Kemp, citing data from the International Energy Agency and International Monetary Fund. Eliminating fossil-fuel subsidies would slash energy demand growth worldwide by 5% and carbon-dioxide emissions by 2 billion metric tons annually by the end of the decade, the IEA said. Cutting subsidies by half would lower the average government deficit to 0.8% of gross domestic product, from 2.1% today, Kemp writes.

Bulgaria will likely extend its contract with Russia's Atomstroyexport, the company commissioned to construct the 2,000-megawatt Belene nuclear facility, according to reports. Russia planned to offer about $2.67 billion to finance the stalled project until Bulgaria gets a strategic investor. The deal extension will allow Bulgaria to delay its reply to Russia's offer, which was due by the end of March.

Pyongyang media says 100,000 North Koreans turned out to rail against the U.S., South Korea and the United Nations, and demonstrate support for government efforts to stand up to external pressure. Reports in the official media said Pyongyang never would abandon its nuclear program and repeated government threats to unleash a "fire shower of nuclear retaliation" against Washington and Seoul.

Five years ago, Tennessee Valley Authority officials rejected costly solutions to fix the coal-ash landfill at TVA's power plant in Kingston, Tenn. After rejecting options that cost up to $25 million, the TVA installed trenches and other drainage mechanisms in an attempt to relieve the water pressure. Last month, the walls burst and flooded 300 acres of land with coal ash.